OXFORD, Miss. — Jaxson Dart delivered an impressive performance, passing for 306 yards, as No. 18 Mississippi overcame Oklahoma with a score of 26-14 on Saturday.
The Sooners had a lead of 14-10 at halftime, but Mississippi surged in the third quarter with two touchdowns thanks to Dart and tight end Caden Prieskorn, who recorded five receptions for a total of 71 yards.
Facing adversity, Oklahoma (4-4, 1-4 SEC) played its first game after the dismissal of offensive coordinator Seth Littrell the previous Sunday. While they seemed to find success on the ground in the first half, the second half revealed struggles, as they failed to breach the 50-yard line until midway through the fourth quarter.
During that particular drive, they managed to reach the Ole Miss 13-yard line, but three consecutive sacks on quarterback Jackson Arnold resulted in a turnover on downs. The Rebels’ defense turned in a stellar performance, sacking Arnold a total of nine times throughout the game.
Arnold, who started the season as Oklahoma’s starting quarterback, was returning from being benched in favor of freshman Michael Hawkins Jr. during Week 5.
Key plays in the third quarter included a pivotal 24-yard connection from Dart to Prieskorn, followed by a 1-yard rushing touchdown from JJ Pegues, who specializes in short-yardage situations, which contributed significantly to their lead.
In the absence of standout receiver Tre Harris due to injury, Dart relied on other playmakers, with tight end Dae’Quan Wright stepping up with three receptions, showcasing the team’s depth in talent.
As for the implications of this game, depending on the outcomes of other matches that day, the Rebels could potentially climb into the top 15 and rekindle discussions surrounding playoff aspirations that had cooled following their earlier defeat at LSU.
Looking ahead, Oklahoma is set to face off against Maine next Saturday afternoon, while Ole Miss will travel to play against Arkansas that same Saturday morning.
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